Adjustable axle-nut.



No. 861,219. PATENTED JULY 23, 1907. .c. MILLER.

ADJUSTABLE AXLE NUT.

APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 2, 1905.

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LIIIIIIII I @MW arom Snow Wop i PATENTED JULY 23, 1907. G. MILLER.

ADJUSTABLE AXLE NUT.

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CONRAD MILLER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ADJUSTABLE AXLE-NUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1907.

Application filed September 2,1905. Serial No. 276,838.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CONRAD MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city and county of Denver, and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Axle-Nuts;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. Y

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable axle nuts, my objectbeing to provide a device of this character capable of such adjustmentas to take up lost motion incident to the wear between the wheel andaxle whereby in the absence of a device of this class the wheel wouldbecome loose.

My improved axle nut consists of two members one of which may be termedthe nut proper and the other a collar or sleeve interiorly threaded toreceive the exterior threads of the nut. The nut is interiorly threadedto engage the threaded extremity of the axle spindle. The threads of thespindle and the interior threads of the nut' are preferably ofconsiderably greater pitch than the exterior threads of the nut and thethreads of the collar engaged thereby.

The outer extremity of the spindle is grooved, preferably on twoopposite sides, to receive interiorly projecting lugs mounted on thecollar, whereby the latter member is prevented from turning on the axleincident to the engagement of the hub of the wheel. The axle nut properof my improved devicenever comes in contact with the hub of the wheel.Hence the movement of the wheel can have no tendency under anycircumstances to unscrew the nut. In my improved construction the nut iscapable of considerable range of adjustment within the collar, thusmaking it practicable to compensate for a considerable degree of lostmotion. The interiorly projecting lugs are preferably adjustable and forthis purpose consist of screws threaded in the collar and adapted to beunscrewed sufficiently to allow the collar to turn on the end memberwhen applied to the spindle, for adjusting purposes.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed todescribe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanyingdrawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a section taken through my improved axlenut and the hub of the wheel, the journal of the axle being shown inelevation. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of the same with the journalalso sectionized, the section in this case cutting the adjustable lugsof the collar. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, viewedin the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the axlejournal. Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in section of the collar memberof my improved device. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the nut member of thedevice. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified formof construction. Fig. 8 is a section taken at right angles to Fig. 7,and showing the members of the axle nut in a different relativeposition. Fig. 9 is a sectional View of the sleeve member of the nut.Fig. 10 is a section of a bushing which, when the parts are assembled,is journaled on the body of the axle nut. Fig. 11 is a section of thebody of the axle nut shown in detail.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Referring first more especially to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, let thenumeral 5 designate the hub of the wheel and 6 the bushing of the hub.The spindle 7 is threaded at its outer extremity as shown at 8. Thisouter extremity of the spindle is also provided with two longitudinalgrooves 9 located on opposite sides of the spin dle or journal andextending from the threaded end of the journal a suitable distanceinwardly.

My improved axle nut consists of the nut member 12 and the collar orsleeve member 13. The member 12 is interiorly threaded as shown at 14 toscrew upon the threaded end 8 of the axle journal. This member is alsoexteriorly threaded as shown at 16 to engage interior threads 17 of themember 13. The threads 16 and 17 are preferably of considerably lesspitch than the threads 8 and 14. The member 13 is provided withinteriorly projecting lugs 18 preferably adjustable and for this purposeconsisting of screws engaging threaded openings formed in the oppositesides of the member. The inner extremities of these lugs are adapted toengage the grooves 9 of the journal whereby when the collar 13 isapplied to the journal it is locked against turning thereon.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of this form of myimproved device will be readily un derstood. Assuming that the axle nutis applied to the spindle as shown in Fig. 1, if the space is too greatbetween the nut and the shoulder of the axle against which the hubbears, it is only necessary to unscrew the lugs 18 until theirextremities no longer protrude into the grooves 9. In this event themember 13 of the nut may be turned sufficiently on the member 12 to takeup the necessary lost motion, whereby the space B between the head ofthe member 12 and the outer extremity of the member 13 will beincreased. As soon as this adjustment is obtained, the threaded lugs 18are screwed inwardly and made to engage the grooves 9, whereby themember 13 is prevented from turning independently of the axle.

Referring now to Figs; 7 to 11, inclusive, attention is called to thefact that the nut member of the device, which I will designate in itsentirety by the numeral 19, is composed of two parts, namely the bodymember 19 and an exterior bushing 19 journaled on the body member, itsexterior threads engaging thesleeve member 13, the latter member beingsubstantially the same as in the other form of construction. When theparts l9 and 19 are manufactured, part 19 is in the form shownin-Fig.'1l. The part 19 is then slipped over, or upon, the part 19 afterwhich the inner extremity 19 of the part 19 is upset to form ashoulderwhich holds the bushing in place on the body part 19. The arrangement,however, is such that the bushing is allowed to turn freely on the bodymember. After the parts 19* and 19 are assembled, as just described, toform the nut member, the sleeve member 13 is screwed upon the exteriorthreads of the bushing a suitable distance. The entire device then beingassembled is applied to the threaded end' of the spindle, the body partof the nut being screwed thereon. When the device is properly adjusted,the inner extremity of the part 19 should engage the shoulder 7 of thespindle. In case the sleeve member 13 engages the hub 5 before the part19 is moved to its inward limit, the bushing 19 may be turned toward theright, whereby the sleeve member 13 will be moved outwardly from thehub. This operation is continued until the sleeve 13 is a sufficientdistance from the hub to allow the part 19 to be screwed home as justdescribed.

After the device is properly adjusted, as shown in Fig. 7 as the hubbecomes worn and the space between its outer extremity and that of thesleeve 13 increases, resulting in too much lost motion, it is onlynecessary to turn the bushing 19 toward the left, whereby the sleeve 13is caused to travel toward the outer extremity of the hub, until thespace between it and the hub is reduced to the proper limit. It willthus be seen that through the instrumentality of the bushing part 19 ofthe nut member, the adjustment of the device may be quickly and easilyaccomplished.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim 1. The combination of aspindle, an axle nut composed of two members, the first being interiorlythreaded and the second being exterior-1y threaded to correspond, theexteriorly threaded member having a threaded spindle-receiving' socket,the spindle and the first member having adjustable interlocking featuresto prevent the one from turning independently of the other.

2. The combination of a spindle, 01 an axle nut composed of two members,the first being interiorly threaded and the second exterior-1y threadedtocorrespond, the exteriorly threaded member havinga threaded spindlereceiving-socket, the spindle having a groove and the first memberhaving an adjustable lug adapted to enter the groove for the purpose setforth.

3. An axle nut composed of two members, the first mem ber beinginteriorly threaded and having an adjustable in teriorly projecting lug,the second member being exte- 'riorly threaded to fit the interiorthreads of the first member, the second member alsohaving a threadedsocket whose threads are of greater pitch than the exterior threads ofthe said member.

-l. The combination of an axle whose outer extremity is threaded, a nuthaving a threaded socket adapted to engage the threaded extremity of thespindle, the threads of the two parts being of the same pitch, the saidnut having exterior threads of less pitch, and a collar interiorlythreaded to correspond with the exterior threads of the nut, the nut andcoller being constructed to coiiperate, the collar occupying a positionbetween the shouldered head of the nut and the hub of thespindle, thecollar and spindle having adjustable inter-locking features to preventthe one from turning upon'the other.

5. The combination of a spindle having an outer threaded extremity and arecess located near the threaded extremity, a collar having anadjustable lug adapted to enter said recess whereby the collar isprevented from turning on the spindle, the collar being interiorlythreaded, and a nut exterior-1y threaded to engage the interior threads01 the collar, the said nut having a threaded socket adapted to receivethe threaded extremity of the spindle, the threads of the said socketand the spindle being of greater pitch than the interlocking threads ofthe nut and collar.

. (5. The combination of a spindle having an outer threaded extremityand recesses formed in the spindle near its threaded extremity, a collarhaving adjustable lugsadapted to engage the recesses of the spindle,said collar being interiorly threaded, and a nut proper having exteriorthreads engaging the interior threads of the collar, and a threadedsocket adapted to engage the threaded extremity of the spindle, thethreads of the nut and spindle being of greater pitch than theinterlocking threads of the nut and collar for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CONRAD MILLER.

Witnesses Dnxa NELSON, l J. EDWIN ROBINSON.

